i tend to go with the straightest ...

and with harsh winter.. i would probably do it after next springs flush ..

i always worry that the only viable one.. is the one i cut off ... even after all these years ...

BTW.. i blame robins... birds landing on the top of the tree.. squishing the buds in their talons ...

the second... give it a year or two.. to sort itself out ...

there is NEVER a hurry.. when dealing with trees and conifers ...

besides... i have gone in there and broken off small... good ones ... trying to cut out the bad .... in a year or two ... you can do the surgery much easier ...

and finally .. if and when you do it... dont worry about a perfect flush cut.. and branch collars.. etc ... you do the best you can.. w/o further injury ... even if you have to leave a stub ..... and that lesson is learned.. when you have a pole saw extended to 16 feet... over your head ... and wing it .... [its even more entertaining.. when you have the pole.. on top of a 10 foot ladder.. and you are trying to get leverage to pull the mechanism .;... ]

ken

Is there a good (or bad) time of year to do these types of corrective trims? At least in terms of risking damage or disease to the tree.

In regards to the first spruce, I'd choose a leader now and remove the other one. I would pick the strongest looking one, which is usually the tallest.

As far as the second one goes, I think Ken's right on. Just leave it alone for a couple seasons to see what it does.

Good luck!

Can I remove one of the leaders after the growth begins in the spring? I know some trees should only be pruned at certain times of the year. Is spruce one of these? I don't want to cause a disease or insect problem by trimming during growth and sap flow.